com'è andata la vacanza?
In Italian, 'how was your vacation?' is said as com'è andata la vacanza?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their experience during a recent holiday.
Which one should you use?
Additionally, the Italian phrase uses the definite article 'la' (the) instead of a possessive adjective like 'your' to refer to the vacation.
Did you know?
- The word vacanza comes from the Latin vacantia, which refers to 'emptiness'. In its original sense, a vacation was not just a trip but a period when a position or a place was empty.
- The word andata also functions as a noun meaning 'departure'. It is commonly paired with ritorno to specify a 'round-trip' ticket when traveling.
- When responding to com'è andata la vacanza?, Italians frequently use the superlative benissimo instead of bene. This adds a level of enthusiasm that goes beyond the English 'very well'.
Examples in context
- Com'è andata la vacanza? È stata bellissima!How was your vacation? It was beautiful!
Example conversation
Two friends meet for coffee after the summer holidays.
- SofiaCiao Francesco, com'è andata la vacanza?Hi Francesco, how was your vacation?
- FrancescoÈ stata fantastica, grazie Sofia!It was fantastic, thanks Sofia!
- SofiaTi sei divertito molto?Did you have a lot of fun?
- FrancescoSì, è stato un viaggio indimenticabile.Yes, it was an unforgettable trip.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries andata, la, vacanza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
